Bobby Lin asked Jessica Strawser:

How many years have you been writing? What keep you motivated? From, Bobby

Jessica Strawser Thanks for asking! I've been writing as a journalist since my teen years: I co-edited my high school newspaper, apprenticed with a local daily and then attended the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, where I covered the courts beat for the award-winning student-run publication, studied magazine feature writing, and entered the publishing industry as an editor who also contributed interviews, profiles and eventually essays (including one for The New York Times' Modern Love). Having only dabbled in fiction (but always, always reading it voraciously), I got serious about pursuing the craft about eight years ago. My day job at Writer's Digest is probably my biggest constant motivator: It feeds me ideas and techniques even when I'm not in my most receptive mood, and always inspires me to do better.

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